EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Ward CNC partners asset finance broker

Sheffield-based TW Ward CNC Machinery (Ward CNC) has agreed a major strategic partnership with a UKbroker of asset finance.The deal will allow Ward CNC to offer its customers a range of flexible machinery financing options, with Affinity Asset Finance acting as its own FCA-authorised finance provider. Ward CNC is the sole UK distributor for machine tools manufactured by Hyundai-Wia, Hartford, Soraluce, Takisawa and Hankook.

Simon Whitworth, managing director at Ward CNC, says: “This new partnership will help us to develop our service offering and means that we are not tied to any one lender or bank. Customers can therefore access the broadest range of funding packages and deals available on the market, with extremely flexible terms and attractive finance arrangements.”
For further information www.wardcnc.com

MSL to retrofit Nikon laser scanners

The Industrial Metrology Business Unit of Nikon Corporation has entered into a new partnership agreement with Peterborough-based Measurement Solutions Ltd (MSL), which will now sell and retrofit Nikon’s automated 3D laser scanning solutions in the UK market.
Callum Williams-York, Nikon’s European account manager for the Laser Scanner Business Unit, says: “Working in the UK metrology market, I’ve always been aware of the excellent service MSL provides. MSL has the technical and commercial expertise to supply the UK’s CMM market with highly professional retrofits of our laser scanners.”
For further information www.measurement-solutions.co.uk

TIMTOS 2023 draws to close

TIMTOS 2023 concluded earlier this month, attracting over 45,000 visitors, including nearly 6000 international visitors from more than 100 countries. The online exhibition will continue to run until 6April and has already reached 7000 visitors from nearly 15 countries.This year’s TIMTOS was hailed as a tremendous success by major exhibitors such as FFG, Goodway, Takisawa, Heidenhain, HIWIN and Keyarrow. “Far beyond our expectations”; “we’ve taken enough orders at TIMTOS to keep the whole year busy”; and “TIMTOS 2023 is even more dynamic than pre-pandemic times”, they said.
For further information www.timtos.com.tw

ABB expandsrobotfactory

ABB is strengthening its commitment to one of its largest customer markets – the US – with construction starting on the expansion of its existing North American robotics headquarters and manufacturing facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The project is expected to be complete in November 2023 and represents an investment of $20m, leading to the creation of 72 highly skilled new jobs.Close to 90% of robots delivered to customers in the US, Canada, Mexico and South America will soon be made at Auburn Hills. The plant utilises flexible, modular production cells that are digitally connected and networked.
For further information www.abb.com/robotics

AMRC helps caravan company embrace digital

A luxury touring caravan manufacturer from St Asaph is rolling forward thanks to the benefits of a digital transformation project.The Fifth Wheel Company is one of a number of Denbighshire businesses to benefit from R&D collaborations designed to boost digital support. Engineers from AMRC Cymru, part of the wider University of Sheffield AMRC innovation and research cluster, are collaborating with Denbighshire County Council as part of the digital transformation project. The focus of the work will centre on improving product development and manufacturing processes through smart technologies.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk